In which someone other than Percy gets the spotlight for a chapter :)
MKDemiGodzilla-Warrior: They'll be like 'Oh it's so hard to go to Greece' and Percy, Annabeth and Piper would just be like 'Dude what the fuck are you on about we go there every few months lol'. But they do have the advantage of not having to travel in the usual way. As for the last part of the review... well you'll enjoy this I think.
Undeath9087: Carter's just there like 'So you not only got yourself kidnapped, you also rescued a currently mortal goddess and the guy who nearly killed your crush?' with that disapproving look on his face. And yeah. Yeah Alina's fucked. She killed Desjardins when he was trying to protect Percy. Just imagine how she'll react when she gets to let loose.
fugy: Oh I'm sure you can't- just imagine her meeting Connor and Travis. The camps pranksters and Miss 'I'm gonna terrorize an asshole preacher' who is also miss 'What do you mean fear? Why would I be afraid, I'm only about to skate down the railings and do a double flip and break half the bones in my body what's the big deal?'. And Piper is an enabler so she'll be there like 'Bet you ten bucks you can't do it blindfolded'.
Zephyr0f8: You'll have to wait and see what happens- it'll be fun though I know that. I can't wait for reactions to some of what I've written.
Guest: She suspects Percy is Greek and she also half suspects the Poseidon connection but she's trying to convince herself she's wrong because she knows just how risky that would turn out to be. As for the revival- Kronos wouldn't be back to his full strength with Artemis' power, that would take time, and the sacrifice would also give him power too. But he would be able to take on his own form again and would be immortal if the ritual is completed, and with time and more pledges from Demigods he would return to power quicker unless the spell was somehow messed up.
Krypton Joy Writes: It will certainly be fun when we get to certain chapters- Percy's just there a lot of the time like 'In what fucking world am I the peacekeeper?!' And I dunno, maybe someday in the future. Just not for now I think, I already have so much to write lol.
Bianca was confused. Everything felt fuzzy, she wasn't sure where she was at first. She was on a hill, which had a thick coating of snow all around- covering the large pine tree next to her, and the building that she could see over the crest of the hill- though none of it was that clear to her under the blanket of snow. And yet she knew where she was. Perhaps it was an instinctual thing that told her that this was the famous Camp Half Blood where she would have gone if it hadn't been for Percy.
And that was confirmed in her mind when she spotted the famous fleece which she knew Percy, Piper and Annabeth had retrieved from the Sea of Monsters before Bianca had met them.
How had she gotten here though? Why couldn't she remember anything?
Bianca shook herself slightly and considered her options. She should head down into the camp right? That made sense.
And she would have, if she hadn't spotted something in the distance. Bianca's eyes narrowed and she headed down the hill away from the camp, breath catching when she saw men and women seemingly appearing out of nowhere.
Magicians, they had to be based on their clothing and their wands. And they were talking but for some reason Bianca could only hear snatches of the words- but the snatches were enough to fill her heart with dread.
"Attack the Demigods."
"Break the barrier"
"War will come"
"They'll believe the House ordered it." and that was clear enough, if horrifying. Bianca knew that there were magicians who hated the new order of the House of Life. Rebels against the Kanes. These magicians must be some of them, planning on attacking, making it look like the House wanted to start a war with the Greeks. And once it had started it wouldn't matter that it was a fake attack. She had to do something she had to stop it-" she started running towards the magicians- only to jerk awake with a panicked scream, her whole body suddenly aching horribly.
"Bianca!" That voice was familiar, that voice was familiar- Bianca blinked rapidly, her gaze focusing on-
"Mrs Kane?" her voice was hoarse she realised, shaky, "I- what-" she felt the color draining from her cheeks, "School- the dance- Percy-" she clamped a hand over her mouth to stifle the sob.
"Bianca-" Sally looked pale Bianca realised, her eyes had bags under them and they were red and swollen, but she was still as gentle as she had ever been, her hand soft against Bianca's cheek, "Bianca sweetheart look at me- you've been through something horrible. Take your time-"
"No, no there's no time." Bianca shook her head, "There- it was- Percy knew something was wrong she warned me- I went back in to try and find Percy-"
"What happened?" Sally clearly couldn't stop herself from asking that, and Bianca took a deep breath, "I- I saw her slung over someones shoulder. A woman I think- not a man, definitely not a man, the woman was taking her somewhere. Percy was unconscious and I tried to follow but... there was the explosion." she shuddered at the memory, the sheer violence of it all.
"She's-" Sally let out a heart wrenching little sob, "She was taken. That means she was alive. She wasn't- I was so afraid that she was in the building when-"
"No. No she was kidnapped." Bianca swallowed hard. "There was- there was a man. I didn't know him. He... I felt him die-" she almost flinched when Sally grabbed her hand and squeezed it but she managed to stop herself. And gods but Sally was amazing. Bianca wasn't sure what she'd do if she was in Sally's place and she'd been worried about Nico. She sure as Hades wouldn't be willing to waste time trying to comfort the only witness.
"There was one body." Sally frowned, "It was too badly burned to be identified." her voice was sad and she shook her head, "It's horrible- but you saved a lot of lives Bianca, getting everyone out." her voice was soothing, her thumb rubbing across Bianca's knuckles. "You were incredibly brave. Remember that sweetheart. And now we know that Percy's still alive."
"What was the explosion?"
"Greek fire." Sally shuddered slightly, shaking her head, a sad gleam in her eyes. "A terrible thing. The school was essentially destroyed. I've already offered to fund rebuilding efforts of course but that'll take time. It could have been worse of course but... they were very lucky you were so brave Bianca." she squeezed Bianca's hand again.
"Greek-" Bianca's dream came rushing back to her, "Oh this is bad-"
"I know sweet-"
"No you don't understand." Bianca shook her head sharply, her eyes wide. I had a dream- there's going to be an attack on the Greeks by Magicians, at their camp-"
"Carter hasn't agreed to that!" Sally's voice was startled, "He's been working himself to the bone trying to keep peace- half of the House has been calling for war but he's been insisting on waiting until we get clear answers-"
"They're rebels I think." Bianca told Sally seriously. "What-" she hesitated, "What if they're behind the attack at the school too? Setting up both sides so that even if one side manages to see reason the other side will think they're under attack."
"This is very bad." Sally stood up, starting to pace the room- and for the first time since Bianca had met the woman she looked her age- the stress must be overwhelming for her. "I'll go talk to Carter but I don't- how do we help the Greeks-"
"I can go." Bianca didn't even hesitate, "I saw it- and I can shadow travel you know I can." her voice was almost desperate. "I dreamed of what was going to happen for a reason you know I did Sally-"
"Bianca-" Sally shook her head, "Sweetheart you've only just woken up. You were out for days. It's the sixteenth now. I had to drag Nico out of here because he was fretting so much."
"I-" Bianca swallowed hard, "I was out for... but it didn't feel-"
"It doesn't if you're knocked out like that." Sally shook her head, "Bianca we had to dig you out from a pile of rubble. We don't even know how you survived it.
Bianca pressed her lips together for a moment before her tongue darted out to dampen her dry lips. "Shadows. I managed to create a shield with shadows at the very last moment. It still threw me backwards though, and I hit my head."
"You could have died." Sally's expression was pained, "Rushing off again... it's dangerous."
"But it's our only chance." Bianca pointed out. "I'm the only one who can go there and help them. I had that dream for a reason. It has to be a demigod dream right?" that made Sally wince- mostly because she knew Bianca was right.
"Yes but-"
"If Piper and Annabeth were here they could come with me but they're with Annabeth's dad and it'd take too long. And Nico- I can't. It's too dangerous-"
"Bianca sweetheart you're only two years older than him-"
"I'm twelve." Bianca gave Sally a shaky smile, "Percy was younger when she started going on adventures like this. And Sadie was only twelve too."
"That isn't fair." Sally gave her a look, "I didn't want them running off so young either but I didn't get any say in it-"
"And you don't now. I'm sorry Sally I know you promised my dad you'd protect me but I gotta do this. For Percy's sake. If these guys are working with or for the lady who took Percy then someone needs to go and try and get some answers- and she'd want me to help the camp and you know it."
"I hate this." Sally closed her eyes, "You'll wait for long enough for me to get you some Nectar. And you'll speak to your brother before you leave." she opened her eyes. "I won't be the one to tell him your rushing off on your own into danger. I wish you could take someone with you- Kaya-"
"Kaya would come but she's not a demigod." Bianca pointed out, "It's risky to take a magician when they're about to be under attack by magicians." as she spoke Sally was moving to fetch the bottle of nectar- they didn't have much of it but she kept some stocked up in case of emergencies with their demigod residents.
"You drink this, go to your room and get changed and then you talk to your brother before you go okay?" Bianca accepted the freshly poured glass of amber liquid that Sally handed her with a slightly shaky hand, and she nodded.
"I will Sally. I promise you."
"You be careful, and keep in contact." Sally pressed her lips to Bianca's head and Bianca flushed, warmth flooding through her.
It was strange sometimes. She didn't remember her own mother- and she did wonder sometimes if it was for the best given what Percy had eventually explained to her. Would remembering her make the grief stronger?
And the lack of memory probably made it easier to accept Sally's kindness. She knew the woman wasn't her mother but, well, she was pretty close these days. Sally treated everyone as if they were one of her babies most of the time. She had a huge heart- and Bianca's heart wanted to break thinking how terrified and lost she must be feeling with her little girl taken away from her.
She drank the ambrosia, making a mental note to mention it to Nico, to tell her little brother to look after Sally and help with the twins while she was gone.
He wouldn't like her leaving without him much. He wasn't clingy anymore but he would want to be involved in the fighting. But no, in Bianca's opinion there was more than enough time for that in the future. Her little brother would be a fine fighter and a great hero but she'd keep him safe for a little longer at least.
So once the Ambrosia had eased her aching head and muscles Bianca headed to her room, changing out of the dress and after some consideration pulling on a pair of jeans- one of the few pairs of jeans she owned, making sure to add the belt Percy had gotten her- it had sheaths attached to it for her stygian iron daggers.
She also pulled on a warm turtle neck jumper and a pair of boots.
She wished she had actual armor but she doubted it would do that much good in the long run.
She was in the middle of fixing her hair- braiding it back out of her face once more so that it wouldn't get in the way while she was fighting, when the knock on her door came.
Bianca didn't have to look or ask to know who it would be, so she simply called out, "Come in Neeks!"
And a moment later the door slid open and Nico was slipping into the room, a scowl on his lips as he shut the door behind her and crossed his arms over his chest- every inch the petulant child.
"You're leaving aren't you?" and Bianca wasn't sure how he knew- perhaps Sally's expression had given it away when she'd told Nico to come and see Bianca, "You've only just woken up and you're running off."
"C'mere." Bianca turned away from her mirror, opening up her arms, "Nicolo, come here-"
"No." Nico glared, "I nearly lost you Bia. You can't just run off without me- I could help you."
"No." Bianca shook her head, lowering her arms. "No Nico. You can't, not with this. I need you to do something else for me."
That made Nico pause, a hesitant look on his face.
"I- I can?"
"Of course." Bianca nodded seriously. "I need you to look after Sally and help her with the twins. She's going through a lot at the moment- with the attacks and Percy being missing. She's been good to us Nico. So I need you to be good to her."
Nico's eyes narrowed slightly. "I'm not stupid." he huffed the words, "You're only saying that because you want an excuse not to take me with you." he paused ,"But- Sally has been super stressed. And the twins too- they keep asking when Percy's coming home and why she didn't say bye bye this time."
"See." Bianca gave him a look, "They need you more than I do right now. Not that I don't need you but... I need to do this and I need to know they're looked after. Sadie and Carter and Zia and Walt are all gonna be too busy to look after the twins and Sally."
"Okay." Nico said slowly, nodding, "I'll look after them for you but I swear, if you don't come home Bia."
"I will." she held out her arms again, "Now, you gonna come give your big sister a hug-"
"You're so embarrassing." but Nico moved forward anyway, wrapping his arms around her waist, and Bianca let out a slow breath, a smile playing across her lips as she folded her arms around her baby brother.
And gods but she hoped she'd make it home and get to hug him again soon.